No. 1309 - Sandy Bay - The Hutchins School - The Chapel of St Thomas (1971)

The Hutchins School was founded in 1846 as a memorial to The Venerable William Hutchins, first Archdeacon of the colony of Van Diemen’s Land. The school was established by the Church of England as a feeder school for Christ’s College at Bishopsbourne. [see No. 354]

The Hutchins School commenced under Headmaster J R Buckland at Ingle Hall in lower Macquarie Street, one of the oldest homes still standing in Hobart. In 1849 it was relocated further up Macquarie Street to a purpose-built schoolhouse designed by Tasmanian architect, William Archer.

In 1957 a new Junior School opened at Sandy Bay. The Senior School moved to Sandy Bay in stages, after the purchase of the former Queenborough Cemetery in 1960. The Macquarie Street school buildings were sold in 1965 after the relocation to Sandy Bay was completed.

In 1936 Tasmanian architect Alexander North was commissioned to design a school chapel to be built at the Barrack Street side of the Macquarie Street site. This became the focus of a fundraising campaign for the school’s 1946 centenary. The Mercury reported:

“In 10 years the school will celebrate its centenary, and wisely taking time by the forelock, the Old Boys’ Association, the Parents' Association, and the Masonic Lodge of the school have joined forces to launch an appeal for funds to build a memorial chapel. The design published shows, a building that will add to the architectural beauties of the city, and when the chapel is linked with the original building by the proposed cloisters the whole school will form an imposing pile of which all concerned may justly feel proud….”.

At the centenary celebrations held in August 1946 the foundation stone for the proposed chapel was ceremonially laid by Governor Sir Hugh Binney. The site was consecrated by the Bishop of Tasmania, G. F. Cranswick.

However, by 1947 the school was in the process of making plans to leave the Macquarie Street site. The foundation stone for the chapel that was never built was re-laid at Sandy Bay on the site of the new school. While the planned Macquarie Street chapel was abandoned a small chapel was established in a room in the school’s boarding house. This was consecrated in 1951.

In 1971,the year of the school's 125th anniversary, the chapel was finally realised. On 7 August 1971, Bishop Robert E. Davies dedicated and consecrated the Chapel of St Thomas.

St Chapel of St Thomas and its immediate precinct has a number of objects and of historic significance. These include:

1. A bell tower that was constructed in 1849 alongside the Hutchins schoolhouse. After the sale of the Macquarie Street buildings in 1965, the tower was dismantled and the stone blocks were stored. In 1974 it was reconstructed by a group of Old Boys. The tower houses the bell from Horton College at Ross.

2. The chapel’s organ which was taken from the former Congregational church on Davy Street. The organ which was built in 1864, was removed after after 116 years and was dedicated by Bishop Newell in 1982, following its installation in the Chapel of St Thomas.

3. The foundation stone for the proposed chapel designed Alexander North which was laid in 1946.

4. The memorial stone of Reverend R.J. Buckland, the first headmaster of Hutchins School.

5. The memorial stone of Arthur Stephens, principal of Queens College, which amalgamated with Hutchins School.

6. A memorial window in memory of Rev. Canon Charles Brammall, Master Chaplain at the School.

Memorial window in memory of Rev. Canon Charles Brammall, Master Chaplain at the School.

A bell tower that was constructed in 1849 alongside the Hutchins schoolhouse. After the sale of the Macquarie Street buildings in 1965, the tower was dismantled and the stone blocks were stored. In 1974 it was reconstructed by a group of Old Boys

The bell from Horton College

The foundation stone for the proposed chapel designed Alexander North which was laid in 1946.

The memorial stone of Arthur Stephens, principal of Queens College, which amalgamated with The Hutchins School.

The memorial stone of Reverend R.J. Buckland, the first headmaster of The Hutchins School.

The Hutchins School Magazine, 1971

The Hutchins School Magazine, June 1951

The old school on Macquarie Street. Source: Libraries Tasmania - Item No. PH1/1/14

Alexander North's design for the Centenary Memorial Chapel

Sources:

Mercury, Wednesday 5 August 1936, page 6 (4)
The Advocate, Monday 5 August 1946, page 6
Examiner, Monday 5 August 1946, page 1

The Hutchins School Centenary Magazine 1846-1946
The Hutchins School Magazine, June 1951
The Hutchins School Magazine, 1971

https://www.hutchins.tas.edu.au/history/
https://history.hutchins.tas.edu.au/stories/an-anglican-school-for-boys/